Fan feedback prompts BioShock Infinite 1999 Mode

BioShock Infinite will include "1999 Mode", a harder version of the game where your characters' choices have "irreversible implications", developer Irrational Games has announced.

Irrational's decision to include the feature was prompted in part by feedback in a recent fan survey undertaken by the developer.

Irrational Games already harboured a "hunch" about including the mode, community manager Eduardo Vasconcellos explained on the company's blog. The feedback received by the studio would confirmed Irrational's decision.

1999 Mode is designed to be more than a simple 'hard mode', Vasconcellos explained. Instead, the feature will give players an "especially demanding gaming experience forcing you to examine your decisions while going through your adventure in Columbia".

"With every choice you make, there are irreversible implications, and if your choices guide you down a path not suited to your play style, you will suffer for it."

Resource planning and the need to specialise your combat will also be vital.

"We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots," Levine continued. "In 1999 Mode, gamers face more of the permanent consequences of their gameplay decisions.

"I'm an old school gamer. We wanted to make sure we were taking into account the play styles of gamers like me. So we went straight to the horse's mouth by asking them, on our website, a series of questions about how they play our games. 94.6 percent of respondents indicated that upgrade choices enhanced their BioShock gameplay experience; however, 56.8 percent indicated that being required to make permanent decisions about their character would have made the game even better.

"In BioShock Infinite, gamers will have to sweat out the results of their actions. In addition, 1999 Mode will demand that players pick specialisations, and focus on them."